New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-09-04
RELIGIOUS THEORY md PRACTICE.

RELIGIOUS THEORY And Practice.
A recent incident in Chicago has given cause
for the conclusion that some people who profess
Christianity have no relish for the practical
application Of its PRINCIPLES. The event re
fcrrcd to is the resignation Of the Rev. Charles
F. Goss, pastor Of the Chicago Avenue Church.
mainly because a part OF his congregation re-
Scnted his efforts ~ teach the application Of
Christian doctrine to everyday life. a few
weeks ago DIR. Co.'S preached a sermon on the
duties Of society toward poor working girls
which caused much comment and dccIcned
the dissatisfaction OF TIE lip-servers in the
congregation. The position Of DR.. Goss was
moi an incendiary one. 10 say the least He
took for his text letter written TO a Chicago
paper By working girl, setting forth the
dangers 10 which her fellows were exposed
through their deprivation Of all healthy and
protected forms Of recreation. Dr. GOSs en-
larged upon this statement and held that it
would be "A work of Christian charity and bcnef-
icenco to organize capital for the supply of in
noccnt and cheerful entertainment for the
young Of both sexes whose condition makes
such provision desirable and even necessary.
IL was thoroughly practical suggestion and
beyond question it was wholly in the line Of
applied Christianity
Strangely however this proposal to shelter
and benefit suffering and helpless class gave
deep offence TO many OF Dr. Goss's hearers.
They complained that there was not enough
cvangelicalism in his discourses. They said
they did not want to be shown how they
must put their religion into action. In fact,
they intimated though not in so many words
that preaching which appealed to conscience
did not suit them all they wanted was preach
ing which appealed to the imagination. IL
vas a curious cause of offence, not because
there have not always been only too many
such professors Of Christianity, but because
such professors have usually had at least grace
enough TO be ashamed Of their views and to
cloak them as much IA possible. What makes
this case noteworthy is the singular frankness
of the malcontcnts avowal that they do not
want religion which enters into and clcvatcs
daily life, but only the prctence of one rep
resented by intellectual assent to certain
dogmas. There is, however, one other strange
point in the case The Chicago Avenue
Church people who wanted to get rid Of DR..
Goss professcd to prefer Evangelical preaching.
Now Evangelism is applied Christianity or it
is nothing, and no preaching could be more
truly Evangelical than that which
Dr. Goss had been giving them
The doctrine of the Good Samar-
itan is of the straightest Evangelical kind,
and that was the essence of his discourse upon
the working girls. Yet this practical gospel
teaching gave offence
The resignation Of DR.. Goss, il is now said
will probably not be accepted. If it had been
The fact would certainly have been interpreted
anything but favorably to the majority in hi,
congregation. 1t is, indeed, hardly credible
that any church could maintain organization
upon so hollow pretence of religion as seems
involved in the position of the members who
brought pressure upon the pastor to compel
his resignation. For that position is wholly
incompatible with co comprehension Of. much